Do those who think Ameirca should be Christian remember that early Christians were Communists?

Question

Regardless of the form of Communism (and I did not say they were Marxist, Leninist, Stalinist or Maoist) the principles of early Christian communities were anti-capitalist and would be better represented by the Socialist party than the Republicans.

And sorry for mistyping America in my question; typing is not my strong suit.

Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me.

Answer 1

I know what you are trying to say here but modern in communism the State owns everything. The early Church would not want that to happen as the government becomes massive and the citizens become small.
Communal living in the early Church would require an industry to live life many communities today.
The Bruderhof are world leaders in their field and live by new testament principles. The Amish are the same

my favourite is www.twelvetribes.com

Answer 2

communalism and communism (as it is defined by Karl Marx) are different things. Yes, the early Christians were communistic in the sense that they shared all things in common within their community. However, they still worked and were involved in the economy. Communism is an economic and political system that actually is very much anti-Christian. Thus, I don't think that the kind of communism that the early church exhibited is the same or even similar to the communism that was characteristic of what developed from Karl Marx's political philosophy.

Answer 3

I don't believe America should be a theocratic state but I must point out that the early Christians were not communists. Fundamental to communism is a denial of private ownership of property and this was never a part of early Christian beliefs even though the early believers did share with one another to a degree not common today. Concerning private ownership, Jesus recognized the right to own one's food and clothing (Mt 6:32, Mk. 6:37), and we know that some of His followers maintained possession of their homes (Mk 1:29, Jn 20:10). The koinonia in Acts includes a sharing of goods, even to the extent of believers sometimes selling property in order that the proceeds to be given for distribution to the saints as they might have need (Ac 4:34-35). This kind of giving was not required, however. Nor was it done by everyone in the church. Barnabas would almost certainly not be singled out for mention in this regard (Ac 4:37) if he had merely done what everyone else had. Peter's rebuke of Ananias in chapter five of Acts is not for his holding back some of the money from the sale of his property, but for lying about it in claiming to have donated the full price. Peter recognizes that Ananias owned his property and was under no constraint to give it when he said to Ananias in Acts 5:3, "While it remained unsold did it not remain your own? And after it was sold was it not under your control?" The private ownership and volunteerism of the early believers are inimical to communism. These beliefs are solidly rooted in the teachings of the Old Testament. The many prohibitions against theft in the Bible (Ex 20:15, 22:1-15; Lev 6:2-7, 19:11-13; Eph 4:28; 1 Pe 4:15; Rev 9:21) clearly imply the legitimacy of private ownership. One could not be guilty of theft if no one owned the property one takes. Scripture commands that we respect our neighbor's boundary (Dt 19:14) and it acknowledges the principle of inheritance (Nu 36:1-9). The Jubilee (Lev 25:8-55), which is often cited in a misleading way by Christians with more socialistic tendencies, is itself a celebration of private ownership. God intended that land remain within the lineage of its original owners by causing ownership of lands to revert to the original owners every fifty years. He declares that "In this Year of Jubilee everyone is to return to his own property" (Lev 25:13). Consequently, those who "sold" their land were in fact only leasing it out until the time of the next Jubilee. What we see in the Bible is the principle of love, not a principle of forced redistribution of the wealth.

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The quotation in your update comes from an occasion when Jesus was challenging one particular person to join him in his itinerent ministry. It should not be taken out of context to try to imply Jesus was a communist.

Answer 4

The early Communists were jewish,as were the early Christians. Your point? If any?
Contemporary communism - with the sole exception of Castro's Cuba - is rabidly anti-Christian and we are well within our rights to oppose it as an enemy of our people,and indeed of civilization.

Answer 5

There is actually still a small, but vocal part of the socialist movement that is Christian.

Answer 6

Christians have a way of rewriting history to suit their delicate beliefs..

Ask a christian if Adolph Hitler was christian and most will say 'No."

Answer 7

You mean "socialists", not communists.

Communism didn't exist until the 19th century.

Answer 8

Very few of them do.

And I would say christ was more socialist than communist.

Answer 9

And our founding fathers WERENT religious.